CFD-Driven Design Optimization of Corrugated-Flange Diffuser-Integrated Wind Turbines for Enhanced Performance

In the global shift toward sustainable energy, enhancing the efficiency of renewable energy systems plays a pivotal role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. This study focuses on optimizing the design of a corrugated-flange diffuser integrated with a wind turbine to enhance its performance, particularly in low-wind conditions. While most previous research has examined wind farm performance at high wind speeds, the challenge of effective power extraction at low wind speeds remains largely unresolved. The potential of diffusers to enhance wind turbine efficiency under low-wind conditions has received limited investigation, with most prior studies focusing solely on empty diffuser configurations without turbine integration. In addition, the influence of flange geometry on diffuser performance remains largely unexplored. In this study, parametric analyses were conducted to identify the optimal diffuser design, followed by comparative performance evaluations of configurations with and without turbine integration, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The results show that integrating a turbine with the optimized corrugated-flange diffuser increased flow velocity by 67.85%, achieving an average of approximately 14 m/s around the blade region. In comparison, the optimized corrugated-flange diffuser alone increased flow velocity by 44%, from 4.5 m/s to 8.036 m/s. These findings highlight the potential of optimized diffuser designs to enhance small-scale wind turbine performance in low-wind conditions.